Colin Powell

"Avoid having your ego so close to your position that, when your position fails, your ego goes with it." -Colin Powell

A retired general and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell was the U.S. Secretary of State from January 2001 to January 2005, serving under George W. Bush. He rose to fame and power as the military head of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, code-named Desert Storm, in 1991.

MAGNETISM

Let's just say that we get more than our share of requests from women asking how they can get a date/night with Powell. He's happily married, ladies, and in the media spotlight constantly, so the chances of a sensual encounter are nil and never.

SUCCESS

Let's take a look at his resume. Among his professional accomplishments are: Commander of 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry in Korea; Commander of 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division; Senior Military Assistant to Deputy Secretary of Defense; Senior Military Assistant, Secretary of Defense; Commander V Corps, Frankfurt, Germany; President's National Security Advisor; Commander in Chief, U.S. Forces Command; Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; U.S. Secretary of State.

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Colin Powell Biography

Colin Luther Powell was born April 5, 1937, in Harlem, New York. While raised in the South Bronx by parents Luther Theophilus and Maud Ariel Powell, who both emigrated from Jamaica, Colin was exposed to a multicultural mosaic.

After his 1954 graduation from Morris High School, Powell set off to study geology at City College of New York, and graduated in 1958. With a bachelor's degree under his belt, Powell was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry, as he had joined ROTC, a training program for the U.S. Army, while in college.

officer powell

Powell was trained as a paratrooper and a Ranger, receiving his basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. After several years in the military, most notably as advisor in Vietnam in 1962, and returning for a second tour of duty as a battalion executive officer for the 23rd Infantry in Vietnam and the Americal Division in 1968, Powell returned to the more peaceful and less strenuous classrooms of George Washington University in Washington D.C. in order to receive his MBA in 1971.

An MBA graduate and recipient of the Purple Heart for his military service in Vietnam, Powell was granted a White House Fellowship in 1972. He returned to the military in 1973 as Commander of 1st Battalion in the 32nd Infantry in Korea, and three years later as Commander of 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. Off the battlefront and into the White House, Powell served as an executive assistant in the Energy and Defense Departments during the Carter Administration.

Powell was then named Senior Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1980, during the Reagan Administration, and was promoted to National Security Advisor in 1987.

powell changes the history books

When Powell was named Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1989, he made history twofold, as the youngest person and the first African-American to work in the position. It was back to the military for Powell, only this time as the highest member of the Pentagon, when American troops were sent to the Persian Gulf and Operation Desert Storm was underway in 1991. As history proved, it was successful, thanks in large part to Powell.

After his retirement from the army in 1993, Powell took two years to complete his autobiography, entitled My American Journey. It went on to become a bestseller, while Powell spent time as a public speaker both in the U.S. and abroad.

Powell's 35-year military career has granted him a long list of honors and foreign military awards in his rise to four-star General, such as the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Soldier's Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart.

After Powell chaired the President's Summit for America's Future in Philadelphia in 1997, he helped found America's Promise -- the Alliance for Youth, an organization that aims to make children one of the highest priorities in the U.S. and is dedicated to fulfilling five specified promises that are necessary for the advancement of America's children.

Powell has added a long list of military awards to his name, but he has also earned civilian awards, which include the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. Powell was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth of England as the Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.

In addition to his work with America's Promise, Powell is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Howard University, the Board of Directors of the United Negro College Fund, the Board of Governors of The Boys and Girls Club of America, and the Advisory Board of the Children's Health Fund.

powell becomes secretary of state

Making history once again, Powell was sworn in as U.S. Secretary of State in January 2001, as nominated by then-President George W. Bush.

He may be the first African-American to have served as Secretary of State, responsible for the U.S. foreign affairs issues, but to former Alma Vivian Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama, Powell is a husband. He has been married to Alma Vivian since 1962, and together they have three children -- Michael, Linda and Anne -- and two grandsons -- Jeffrey and Bryan -- who Michael's sons.

powell resigns

On November 12, 2004, Powell announced his resignation as Secretary of State, but he kept his position until his replacement, Condoleezza Rice, was officially elected by the Senate (85 to 13) and sworn in on January 26, 2005. During his long and illustrious career, former Secretary Colin Powell earned the trust of the American people, and will remain a powerful and influential figure in U.S. history.